The World Health Organization (WHO) has reiterated its appeal to China for data and access to determine the origins of COVID-19, calling it a "moral and scientific imperative." In a statement on Monday, the organization emphasized that transparency, sharing, and international cooperation are essential to prevent and prepare for future pandemics.

The statement comes as the world marks five years since COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China. WHO echoed its early actions, including activating emergency systems in January 2020 and rapidly developing testing protocols. "We continue to call on China to share data and access so we can understand the origins of COVID-19," the WHO stressed.

In addition, the WHO raised the question of whether the world is better prepared for the next pandemic than it was for COVID-19.